It had been communicated to me through the odd, secret…
““It had been communicated to me through the odd, secret whispers of women that a female’s nose must never shine. In war, in famine, in fire, it had to be matte, and no one got a lipstick without the requisite face powder. … I was taunted by the problem: how could someone write something like the ‘Symposium’ and make sure her nose did not shine at the same time? It didn’t matter to me that I was reading a translation. I’d read Plato’s brilliant, dense prose and not be able to tear myself away. Even as a reader my nose shined. It was clearly either/or. You had to concentrate on either one or the other. In a New York minute, the oil from Saudi Arabia could infiltrate your house and end up on your nose. It didn’t hurt, it didn’t make noise, it didn’t incapacitate in any way except for the fact that no girl worth her salt took enough time away from vigilance to read a book let alone write one.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She describes the difficulty of reading and writing while adhering to oppressive beauty standards, using the metaphor of a shining nose to illustrate societal constraints on women.
In simple terms: She struggles with societal expectations that women hide their appearance while engaging intellectually.
Key Takeaway
Challenge and expectations that hinder intellectual focus.
Themes
feminism
beauty standards
literature
Mood
critical
defiant
Type
feminist
analytical
When to use this quote
- classroom reading
- creative writing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
gender oppression
self‑expression
academic focus
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societal standards affect your scholarly pursuits?
- What strategies help you focus despite external pressures?
A Different Perspective
Balancing self‑care with intellectual work is tough.